Improvement in shaft-coupling



@geiten tates @anni @fitta JAMES BRAYLEY, or BUFFALaN'a-W YORK. Letters Patent No. 73,293, dated January 14, 1868. i

IMPROVEMENT IN SHAFT-COUPLING.

TO ALL WHOIVI IT MAY GONGERN:

v Be it known that I, JAMES BRAYLEY, of the city of `Buifalo, in the county of Erie, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Shaft-Couplings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which is a view of my improved coupling, shown partially in section. l

l My improvement relates to a common kind of coupling, employed in connecting together the ends of shafts designed to revolve in the saine line. Y I

This usually consists of a ring or box (represented by A 1n the drawing) in which the twol wrists B B, at the ends of the shafts, are secured by two bolts, which pass respectively through the ring and the two Abearings c c of each wrist, at right angles to cach other, the said bolts being provided witha head at one end, while the other projects through the ring on the opposite side, where it has been customarily fastened by a. key. The projecting ends of these bolts have been frequently the causes of accidents-sometimes fatal ones-which resulted from the injured persons clothes getting caught and entangled therein. Especially has this been the caso with the couplings of the tumbling-rods (as they are lcalled) of threshing-machines,.and other connections, near which the attendants or operators have frequently -to pass. A

It is the object'of my invention to overcome this liability to accidents occurring from the foregoing cause.- This I accomplish by so constructing the coupling-ringthat bolts without heads or keys may be inserted therein, and securely retained in place, without either of their ends projecting beyond lthe vsurface of the ring, as will presently be clearly explained. i

To admit of the insertion ofthe two-bolts e e, I cast, or otherwise form in the ring A, radial holes, f, at right anglesvto eachother, having'a lateral recess, g, which does not quite extend throughvthe outersurface of the ring. In the inner side of the ring, opposite these recesses, are formed sockets, h, in which iit the advance ends ofthe bolts e, after theyhave been introduced through the holesfand the slotsz', in the bearings or arms c c, while the lrear ends fall to one side, in the recess y. These recesses' are preferably made onA the side next to the end of the shaft, which lis to be fastened by the bolt fitting therein, so that the action of the shafts', in their tendency to separate, will keep the bolts in their respective recesses. A small hole, n, may be made from the base of the sockets h, through the ring, as shown, in which a nail or other small instrumentcan be inserted, to force the-bolts out, when the shafts are required to be uncoupled.

The great advantage of my improvementas before stated, is the security itaffords against accidents from the garments of the attendants or operators getting entangled around the coupling, as by my improved construction there are no projecting parts, as in the'old method, to catch the clothes. It also renders the coupling lessexpensive, as a simple section .of a rod can be employed to couple the parts, instead of using a finished bolt provided with a head, and a slot for the key, as is' required in the old method.

What I claim as my invention, is I Providing thc-guard-ring A with concealed recesses, g z., on its interior surface, for receiving theends of the loose pins-e e, in combination with the holes fand openings t' z', of the forked heads B, constructed and arrangedlsubstantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IJAMES'BHAYLEY.

Witnesses:

J Av HYATT, j ALBERT HAIGnT. 

